Starter quiz
- In Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', what does Juliet discover after her marriage to Romeo?
- That Romeo has killed her cousin Tybalt. ✓
- That Romeo has killed Count Paris.
- That Romeo has killed Mercutio.
-
- Which of the following are symbols associated with the image of a snake?
- rebirth ✓
- death
- evil ✓
- love
-
- To wish that someone is 'blistered' is to wish something __________ onto them.
- positive
- negative ✓
- neutral
-
- 'The ability of the female characters to take action and make their own decisions that affect their lives' is the definition of female ______.
- 'agency' ✓
- 'Undermine the power and authority of (an established system or institution)' is the definition of which word beginning with 's'?
- 'subvert' ✓
- 'An instance of buying or selling something' is the definition of which word beginning with 't'?
- 'transaction' ✓
Exit quiz
- In Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', Juliet's initial reaction to learning that Romeo has killed Tybalt is ...
- relief
- anger ✓
- forgiveness
-
- 'Ready to conform to the authority or will of others; meekly obedient or passive' is the definition of which of the following?
- subversive
- submissive ✓
- subliminal
-
- 'Treat (someone) as a child or in a way which denies their maturity in age or experience' is the definition of which word beginning with 'i'?
- 'infantalisation' ✓
- 'Make (a marriage or relationship) complete by having sexual intercourse' is the definition of which word beginning with 'c'?
- 'consummated' ✓
- Complete the quotation from Act 3, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet': "To an impatient ______ that hath new robes / And may not wear them".
- 'child' ✓
- Complete the quotation from Act 3, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet': "I have ______ the mansion of a love / But not possessed it".
- 'bought' ✓
Worksheet
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Female sexual desire was frowned upon in Elizabethan England.
- Juliet’s language around sex implies that she anticipates pleasure and wants to take an active role.
- However, Juliet’s comparison to a child at the end of her speech about sex may undermine her agency.
- After finding out Romeo killed Tybalt, Juliet’s initial reaction is one of anger.
- We may see Juliet's forgiveness as her exerting agency or bowing to societal pressure to forgive her husband.
Common misconception
That forgiveness is always a personal choice.
Sometimes people feel societal pressure to forgive someone.
Keywords
Female agency - the ability of the female characters to take action and make their own decisions that affect their lives
Consummated - make (a marriage or relationship) complete by having sexual intercourse
Transactional - relating to the conducting of business, especially buying or selling
Infantalisation - treat (someone) as a child or in a way which denies their maturity in age or experience
Submissive - ready to conform to the authority or will of others; meekly obedient or passive
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